This European Standard defines minimum structural requirements for all railway vehicle bodies other than freight wagons. The requirements for freight wagons are given in Part 2 of this standard. This European Standard specifies the loads vehicle bodies shall be capable of sustaining, identifies how material data shall be used and presents the principles to be used for design validation by analysis and testing. The railway vehicles are divided into categories which are defined only with respect to the structural requirements of the vehicle bodies. These structural requirements should not be confused with operating requirements. It is the responsibility of the operator to decide as to which structural category railway vehicles shall be designed. Some vehicles may not fit into any of the defined categories; the structural requirements for such railway vehicles should be specified by the operator using the principles presented in this European Standard. The standard applies to all railway vehicles within the EU and EFTA territories. The specified requirements assume operating conditions and circumstances such as are prevalent in these countries. In addition to the requirements of this standard the structure of all vehicles associated with passenger conveyance may generally be required to have features that will protect occupants in the case of collision accidents. These requirements are given in prEN 15227:2007.